TORRINGTON >> About two dozen audience members were privy to an in-depth look at Torrington Public School's budget, Wednesday evening. The special meeting came the same day as a fourth arrest of a 17-year-old student for sexual assault and risk of injury to a child charges.

Torrington Police said the charges stem from an alleged incident in January 2013, and that the police department, "continues to work closely with the Torrington Superintendent of Schools," and said that "there will be no further comment on this case."

Board of Education chair Kenneth Traub said he believed the incident to be related to an investigation beginning in February which led to the arrests of Torrington High School football players Joan Toribio and Edgar Gonzalez, both 18, who were charged with sexual assault of two 13-year-old girls. A third arrest, of a 17-year-old Torrington High School football player, was made on March 4 in relations to an alleged incident with one of victims in fall 2012. Police also did not say if the second 17-year-old city male was a student of Torrington Public Schools.

Traub said, "I believe it to be a student, because I can't see any other reason they would have called me."

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Although the budget dominated the board of education's four-hour discussion, a 2013-2014 school year budget was not passed. Many board members expressed support for the superintendent's 7.8 percent, or $5.1 million, increase over the 2012-2013 budget of $66,444,310.

The only references to alleged improprieties on the Torrington High School football team, such as the fall 2012 hazing incident, were during a presentation by Torrington Schools Athletic Director Mike McKenna.

"What do you see as the role of sports at [Torrington High School] to continue?" asked board member Paul Cavagnero. "To me, a sports program is not a right - it's not a right, it's a privilege. If the sports program is not doing character building...then maybe the whole thing is for naught."

"I know we've had a couple of hiccups," responded McKenna.

"Some people would argue more," said Cavagnero. "The perception in the community - everybody knows this - (is) that this program has not been managed effectively by our administration."

McKenna said in order to repair the athletic department's image, "number one is the Athletic Advisory Committee."

"Let's find out what we're not doing well, then let's figure out how to fix it," said McKenna. "In any program you're going to find problems," said McKenna. "We're in the process of changing what needs to be changed, if it needs to be changed," he said.

Asked whether club sports could fill the role currently occupied by the district's athletics program, in the event the approximately $499,000 athletics department were cut, McKenna said, "I'm sure you've heard the horror stories about club teams, like I have." He said, "I don't know that we can count on them to teach the responsibility, the accountability," said McKenna.

Many board members said they supported the superintendent's budget because more Torrington Public Schools programs were needed to attract people to the community and keep students in the district.

"We can't put together a budget that just says we'll just turn the lights on, on July 1st, because by just turning the lights on, on July 1st we are crucifying ourselves and digging a hole we're not going to get out of," said Traub.

"I'm still going to go ahead with the superintendent's budget as it is recommended just to see if we can do a triage and stop the bleeding," said board member Daniel Thibault.

Through final comments, Cavagnero was the only board member to address charges against three football players and hazing incidents in the fall.

"We need to send a real, real clear message that the reason we're funding sports is because it adds to our community and these kids reflect, they bring pride to our community and they bring pride to themselves," said Cavagnero.

Speaking about the athletics department, Cavagnero said, "I want them to be aware of just how close they are of this board, and this town, to finally being moved, because we are simply not getting enough for it." Cavagnero also requested, "a report back on that from your Ms. Superintendent, quickly, quickly on how we are going to bring some common sense, and some discipline back, and some consistency to how we are managing our sports program."

After the meeting, Traub countered that, "We've had problems with multiple sports, not just one." He said, "I don't think it's any different than any other school district, that kids are kids, and kids do stupid things, that's why they're kids."

Superintendent Cheryl Kloczko declined to speak with members of the press following the meeting.